Corey Hickey and Brooke Scriven, sisters and co-founders of On Stage Theatre in Abington, are no strangers to the stage scene.

As children, they took classes for singing, dancing, modeling and acting. They performed around New England as well as New York.

“It was all for fun and we were really into it,” said Hickey. “However, we never pursued it professionally until five years ago.”

In 2001, long before the opening of On Stage, Hickey’s daughter was performing in theater herself just as local schools were cutting back on performing arts programs.

Hickey found herself driving her daughter all over the South Shore so that she could participate in theater. Hickey would help out as a backstage mom.

“I’d watch these great performances and think I could so do this and bring it to our town,” Hickey said.

From there, the sisters began a theater workshop.

“We got the rights to Annie and posted flyers around town,” Hickey said. “We had a huge audition turnout and rehearsed in Holy Ghost Church in Rockland.”

“After six weeks, we put on the show; and at the end, parents were literally begging us to do this again,” said Hickey.

“The kids were so sad when it was over,” she said.

After some time off to raise their own children, Hickey and Scriven began directing theater at the Whitman Middle School.

“We had a huge following,” Hickey said. “Our shows had 90-120 kids in them. That’s when we decided to open a permanent space five years ago.”

Opening its first location on Orange Street in Abington, the enrollment started off with about 90 students. However, it grew steadily over that time.

“As of last June, our enrollment was 225,” said Hickey. “Our classes were bursting at the seams and we couldn’t turn anyone away.”

“That’s when Brooke and I sat down and talked about expanding; and when space became available across the street-– we took it as a sign,” Hickey said.

Musical theater, glee and voice are now held in the Studio One building on Orange Street. Dance classes are offered at the Studio Two building on Washington Street, which includes jazz, tap, ballet, modern and hip-hop.

“We are also fortunate enough to have guest artists have come to teach some of our master classes,” Hickey said. “We’ve had artists such as Eden Espinosa, Paul Canaan and Nikki Snelson.”

“We try to bring artists from Broadway right here to Abington to give kids advice about the industry and teach choreography from the shows,” Hickey said.

Page 2 of 2 - They have brought in guest choreographers such as Chelsea Sebes and Lacey Donnelly.

“Chris Howard from Phantom of the Opera was here two weeks ago,” Hickey said.

On Stage has proven success when grooming the young students for future entertainment endeavors.

“We’ve had a few students enter into a BFA program which auditions literally hundreds and usually will only take seven boys and seven girls,” Hickey said. “The chances of getting in are so small.”

In celebration of five years, Hickey and Scriven have a few ideas up their sleeve.

“We are planning a spring trip with the students to New York City where we will see a show, tour Radio City Music Hall and take a class,” said Hickey. “We will also have some special guest artists again and a gala for our five-year students.”

For more information, call On Stage Theatre, located at 11 Orange St. Abington, at (781) 871-1398 or log onto www.onstagetheatre.com.